Final answer:
The nurse should consider signs like increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, fever, and chest pain, which could indicate a transfusion reaction when administering O-negative fresh frozen plasma to a B-positive patient. O-negative is the universal donor and can be used in emergencies, but proper cross matching is essential to confirm blood type compatibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which finding the nurse should consider when transfusing a unit of O-negative fresh frozen plasma to a patient with a B-positive blood type. Importantly, blood transfusions should be executed with matching ABO and Rh blood types to avoid hemolytic transfusion reactions that can cause serious adverse effects. However, O-negative blood is considered the universal donor for plasma and red blood cells, and can be used in cases of emergency or when the blood type is unknown. The following findings should prompt immediate concern during a transfusion: increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, fever, and chest pain, which could signify a transfusion reaction.
During an emergency, such as a motor vehicle accident with severe bleeding where there is no time to determine the patient's blood type, type O-negative blood is transfused because it lacks A, B, and Rh antigens, reducing the risk of an immune response. If agglutination is observed with both anti-A and anti-B antibodies, this indicates that the patient's blood type is AB. Cross matching is critical in confirming blood type compatibility to prevent adverse reactions.